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Post by cannmom on Aug 2, 2014 2:28:39 GMT
I confess, I am border punch challenged. I always have a hard time using them. I struggle with lining them up so I get an even cut all the way across a sheet of paper. Even though I love the look I don't use them often because it's so frustrating for me. Do you have tool you don't use often because you find it difficult to use?
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AerynK
Full Member
Posts: 262
Location: CA
Jul 7, 2014 19:51:37 GMT
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Post by AerynK on Aug 2, 2014 3:23:50 GMT
Have you made sure to turn the punch upside down so you can see exactly where the next punch needs to go?
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Post by anniefb on Aug 2, 2014 9:41:38 GMT
Border punches for me too. All that lining up. I tend to do borders cwith dies or my cricut instead.
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veronccl
Junior Member
Posts: 51 
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Post by veronccl on Aug 2, 2014 11:02:04 GMT
I love them! But seldom use them :/
I thought they were quite easy to line up using the guide. I always punch first from the middle of my pp.
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Post by mikklynn on Aug 2, 2014 12:00:26 GMT
I don't think border punches work well with the upside down trick, at least for me.
I agree with veronccl, always start in the middle. Take your time lining up the holes after the first punch. Make sure the unpunched part of the paper is tight against the back of the punch.
Try again! You'll get there.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Aug 2, 2014 14:08:02 GMT
I have no trouble with border punches, but I am careful and take an extra 15 seconds to line everything up properly. It's too easy to make a mistake when you are trying to rush the process.
You also have to watch to make sure your paper doesn't slip out of position. The border punches take a little patience and effort, but not all that much, and it gets easier with practice.
I have noticed the same issue with paper trimmers. A lot of people complain that their trimmer doesn't cut straight. However, I get a straight cut every time, and I use the Fiskars trimmer that so many people hated and griped about (I have been using it for years). I have watched people put in my trimmer (the one I use that gives me straight cuts) and cut really fast. Zip! They get crooked cuts. My way only takes a few seconds more, but I get a straight cut but moving the blade slower and keeping the paper steadier. People waste both time and paper having to do it over, just by not being willing to take that extra 15 seconds to slow down.
We live in a time when everyone does everything in a hurry. I can't tell you how many people have said, "I just don't have the patience." 15 seconds is NOT a huge amount of extra time, but it makes a difference, for both border punches and trimmers.
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Post by cannmom on Aug 2, 2014 17:49:30 GMT
Thanks everybody! I never thought to start in the middle of the paper. I will try that next time.  |
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Aug 2, 2014 17:51:52 GMT
I use it when I need to, but I have had quite a few struggles w/my Big Bite. I'm a large woman and sometimes, no matter how hard I press, I just can't seem to get it to smoosh the eyelet.
I think there is a learning curve to most tools, and I know I fall victim to not using something often (like my Cuttlebug) because I'm still a little skeered of it. I have to remind myself that the more I use it, the better I'll get at using it and the more I'll love it.
Hang in there!
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Post by penny on Aug 4, 2014 6:35:49 GMT
Don't laugh too hard - stamps... Any stamp, all stamps... It takes me so many tries to get an image I'm happy with... I use Memento or VersaFine inks, have wood block stamps, rubber, clear, stamp jigs, the Fiskars thing with sponge feet... Doesn't matter... It's been years and I still struggle... I always stamp on either a separate piece of paper or I stamp on my layout before anything else so that when it doesn't work the first time I can rotate the paper and stamp again and then cover up the mistake as I go...lol Not ideal, but I've made peace with the fact that if I want stamped images I have to go through all of that The recent trend of having a couple of stamped images where you stamp without re-inking has been heaven - that's a look I can manage...lol I am really super good at digital stamps though  |
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Post by karensay on Aug 4, 2014 15:47:36 GMT
I love border punches. I do not start in the middle though. I line the edge of my paper up to where the image starts on the punch and then go from there. I usually stand up to use border punches.
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Post by redayh on Aug 5, 2014 1:47:27 GMT
I love them but can't make them work well. And I own at least 30. They're like an albatross.
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Post by Crazyhare on Aug 5, 2014 13:15:58 GMT
I use it when I need to, but I have had quite a few struggles w/my Big Bite. I'm a large woman and sometimes, no matter how hard I press, I just can't seem to get it to smoosh the eyelet. You could be pushing the Big Bite too hard. I always get deformed eyelets if I push too hard. |
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,433
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Aug 5, 2014 14:00:31 GMT
I used to have trouble not keeping the paper flush to the punch so the cut was crooked or out of line. Now that I have the hang of it, it works out much better for me.
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Post by SunnySmile on Aug 5, 2014 16:06:48 GMT
I love them! But seldom use them :/ I thought they were quite easy to line up using the guide. I always punch first from the middle of my pp.  Why in the world have I never thought of starting in the middle?! OMG I feel so stupid...  |
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Post by scrapperlady on Aug 5, 2014 16:46:11 GMT
I love them! But seldom use them :/ I thought they were quite easy to line up using the guide. I always punch first from the middle of my pp. Do not feel stupid! Everyone has something that they do not know or have not tried. Scrapbooking, along with anything else in life is a wonderful adventure of learning experiences 
My experience with punches of any kind has never been one of love. It seemed that I would always purchase the one that didn't work. Friends thought I was just an incompetent operator and would say, "Let me try." They were then greeted with the same failure to succeed. Now that I have my KNK and I am a very happy camper. The variety of borders that I can create is wonderful blessing and the speed/accuracy in creating them is a huge plus.
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Post by kristenf on Aug 5, 2014 22:18:26 GMT
I am a little, uh, "inept" when it comes to certain kinds of circle cutters... take the Fiskars one with the round base and big orange holder in the middle. I'm no lightweight, yet no matter how much pressure I put on the holder, and even developing a digit-bending technique to hold the paper in place with the same hand (while using the other to rotate the blade housing), I still manage to **just** miss the starting mark and end up with a lovely shark-tooth on the edge of my circle.
So, yeah. I don't use circles as much as I would like.
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
Posts: 4,538
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Aug 6, 2014 0:06:43 GMT
I use it when I need to, but I have had quite a few struggles w/my Big Bite. I'm a large woman and sometimes, no matter how hard I press, I just can't seem to get it to smoosh the eyelet. You could be pushing the Big Bite too hard. I always get deformed eyelets if I push too hard. That does happen to me w/certain eyelets. I've found the ones that are colored on top, but the stem is metal tend to do that. But then there are others, usually ones that are all the same color, where I can't get them to *smoosh* no matter what I try. |
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Post by berta147 on Aug 6, 2014 0:22:26 GMT
I don't think border punches work well with the upside down trick, at least for me. I agree with veronccl, always start in the middle. Take your time lining up the holes after the first punch. Make sure the unpunched part of the paper is tight against the back of the punch. Try again! You'll get there. That ^^^ is how I use them. I have a harder time with them upside down. I just put the punch on a flat surface, line up the pattern with the guide and make sure the un-punched edge is line up with the punch. |
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Post by 3dcrafter on Aug 6, 2014 1:26:08 GMT
I am terrible at coloring with markers(so really it's user error)so they rarely ever get used.I really should sit down and practice with some youtube videos; I'm sure that would probably help me work out my coloring issues.
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Post by lauralaforest on Aug 6, 2014 1:43:56 GMT
I'm with 3dcrafter , I also suck at colouring with markers. I went out and bought a whole bunch of Copics and I never use them. Just can't get the hang of it. I guess that's not really a tool, just lack of talent lol
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Post by mushypeasandchips on Aug 12, 2014 1:57:46 GMT
I don't use markers ever! Hate the heavy handed look I get with the difficulty blending, I enjoy a good box of crayons : )
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Why in the world have I never thought of starting in the middle?! OMG I feel so stupid... 
